Do you use WhatsApp, what do you use it for?

[QuarterMillionMan]

WhatsApp: Why Americans Don't Use It | The Deets - YouTube

In Mexico people always ask me for my WhatsApp username, I tell them that I don't have one. I should sign up to keep in contact with them.

[kork13]

Whatsapp is used extensively overseas because it's country-agnostic. Regardless of what country your phone is registered with, people can connect to you for text messaging that is (reportedly?) end-to-end encrypted. I don't use it personally (I detest the Facebook universe, and interact with it as little as possible), but many friends who have been stationed overseas rely on it almost exclusively for contacting people.

[disneysteve]

I’ve used it when traveling outside of the US but that’s it. I have a couple of good friends who live in other countries (Australia, England) but we just chat with Facebook Messenger.

[jenn_jenn]

I only use it when traveling internationally or when friends or family are traveling internationally. It was great for when my husband was deployed in Japan for 6 months. Thank goodness for wifi video calling!

[scfr]

I've used WhatsApp and Line with family members in other countries. Interestingly, just the other day I used it when some family came for a first-time visit to our new house. My mom can't climb the stairs, so I set her up on my laptop & made a video call to DH's phone. I took the phone along with me on the upstairs portion of the tour so Mom could be included. I gave as detailed explanations as possible, tried to make sure to show everything (even went so far as showing how things looked with lights on and off), and answered her questions as we went. She said she felt like she was right there with us. Technology isn't perfect, but I really like how it can help us include the elderly and people with disabilities in ways that we couldn't before.

Edit to add: There may have been other ways to include Mom on a video version of the tour, but WhatsApp was the idea that came to my mind first and was a cinch to set up.

[james.hendrickson]

Whats App is big in the international market. I've gotten a few questionable calls from folks in Asia using that app.

[ua_guy]

I haven't had a need for it. I tend not to get into apps for chat and messaging, it's just too much. If someone needs me, they can call or text. I'll keep it in mind if I travel overseas though.

[disneysteve]

It’s convenient on cruises to communicate with others in your party (assuming you have the WiFi package).

[QuarterMillionMan]

Now I can see more so international usage as opposed to USA usage. We use texts, Facetime, Messenger, etc. As for cruises yes if everyone has wifi but with more 5G transitioning, I think phones are satellite-enabled where wifi onboard the ship would become irrelevant (correct me if I'm wrong).

[QuarterMillionMan]

[james.hendrickson]

So, whatsapp lets you call internationally for free. Why wouldn't you want that?

[disneysteve]

NAs for cruises yes if everyone has wifi but with more 5G transitioning, I think phones are satellite-enabled where wifi onboard the ship would become irrelevant (correct me if I'm wrong).

Just because 5G service will be available doesn't mean your carrier won't soak you with extra charges for international usage. It will likely still be much cheaper (free) to use WiFi calling/texting.